Understanding the Benefits of Cooperation (Continued # 2)

There is a growing body of evidence showing that cooperative behavior has origins in the physical make-up of humans. Ken Cloke writes in a recent article that explores the nuerophysiology of the brain, “Oxytocin is widely believed responsible for prompting empathy, compassion, trust, generosity, altruism, parent-child bonding, and monogamy in many species, including human beings.” Oxytocin[1], or the lack of, may explain some of our conflict behaviors and the chemical reactions in our bodies. It may one day lead to a better understanding of common capacities, reactions, and behaviors. Cloke continues, “Clearly, aggression and war are ‘hard-wired’ into the brain, but so are empathy and collaboration. Recent research has emphasized the cooperative aspects of warlike behavior, which forms a core element not only in gangs, but sports teams, organizations and nation states, which use internal cooperation as an aid to external competition. Indeed, modern warfare can be seen as requiring a high level of internal collaborative activity” (Cloke 7). If we can explain some of our behaviors via common universal physical reactions, it could follow that we all share the capacities for these bahaviors.

Whether or not we can show that humans have the ability to act cooperatively in a certain circumstance, I believe that the prevailing theories and research show that cooperative behavior is a part of our biological core. I now wonder if further study, comparing the literature of cooperation in more communal societies with that of more individualistic and competitive societies would highlight learned differences in those societies or would it reinforce the biological potential for common roots in cooperation. Natural cooperative behavior is an area rich with possibilities for cross-cultural study and research and should certainly be focused on in the phase two and three work of this overall project.
[1]Oxytocin is a hormone released from the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. (American Heritage 1259)

Next time I will focus on the human capacity to forgive!